AMEX Platinum Charge Benefits - Q&A

[DC3]

I got mine just as a credit card back-up to the Charge card. The free flight was a bit of a bonus, I guess.

 

[straitman]

You used to be able to redeem a short haul international airfare e.g.. Mel to AKL

Reserve:

$400 travel credit (used to be free flight)
Same points earn as Plat Charge.

That's about it.

It has changed recently and now it is the $400 credit.

 

[Daver6]

It has changed recently and now it is the $400 credit.

Pretty bad when the rep on the phone still thinks there is a free international flight.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone

 

[andye]

I've mentioned this before but there is a niche where this could work well for sole trader/small business (but not for the high-spenders)
Get plat charge but only (or almost only) use for business expenses. Tax deduct the fee. Use the memberships etc
Use the Reserve for personal expenses.
The two travel credits will more than cover the net fee while still getting most of the bennies

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Pretty bad when the rep on the phone still thinks there is a free international flight.

Absent extenuating circumstances, it's still a flight rather than the credit. Perhaps not international in all cases, but still.

I think the switchover is around the end of March, as reported here and on the Tokyo board.

 

[unfunkable]

Yes that's what I plan to do . Checked with accountant , will pay my work membership fees with this and use it for the benefits. My main spender is explorer anyway as it gets me 2ppd

 

[Daver6]

I've mentioned this before but there is a niche where this could work well for sole trader/small business (but not for the high-spenders)
Get plat charge but only (or almost only) use for business expenses. Tax deduct the fee. Use the memberships etc
Use the Reserve for personal expenses.
The two travel credits will more than cover the net fee while still getting most of the bennies

Given the earn on the card is the same as the QF Ultimate (which I have), then using the charge card purely for work related becomes quite easy.

 

[straitman]

It has changed recently and now it is the $400 credit.

Pretty bad when the rep on the phone still thinks there is a free international flight.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone

Maybe the flight is still the go and the change is coming soon.

To be honest i do not recall the date it changes.

 

[Daver6]

One more question (for now). Anyone know what the minimum credit limit is on the Reserve credit card?

 

[andye]

One more question (for now). Anyone know what the minimum credit limit is on the Reserve credit card?

Its $3k as per documentation received 10 days ago

 

[unfunkable]

I'm so close to applying for the card, just trying to work out the full suite of benefits I would get from it compared to others. I won't be using it as a points earner, as my explorer earns more.
So really, there is the hotel status, virgin lounge access, and the travel credit. We (wife +2 kids) do 2 domestic trips a year, usually with virgin, so the passes would be great. Our last 2 we used our velocity plat passes, and it was great for us to sit and chill.
I don't pay for airfares so have no airline status.
The annual fee would be tax deductible, so after using the travel credit's the annual fee would really be approx nothing. So I can't really lose applying for the card as far as I can see...

 

[Daver6]

I'm so close to applying for the card, just trying to work out the full suite of benefits I would get from it compared to others. I won't be using it as a points earner, as my explorer earns more.
So really, there is the hotel status, virgin lounge access, and the travel credit. We (wife +2 kids) do 2 domestic trips a year, usually with virgin, so the passes would be great. Our last 2 we used our velocity plat passes, and it was great for us to sit and chill.
I don't pay for airfares so have no airline status.
The annual fee would be tax deductible, so after using the travel credit's the annual fee would really be approx nothing. So I can't really lose applying for the card as far as I can see...

This is pretty much my thinking too. The deal with the hotel credits if you book through FHR (or whatever its known as) isn't bad either. Also obviously the bag of points on sign-up us a plus.

Amex Centurion lounge access in the US would be good. Recently entered the QF J lounge in DFW with another gent who was checking it out to decide whether he should stay there or head to the Centurion lounge. He said he rates the QF lounge a 3 or 4 and the Centurion one a 10 and promptly left. The QF wasn't bad, but nothing special.

The main downside I see is the hit to your credit score for getting the two cards.

 

[spiritpyro]

Sorry if posted on the wrong thread, but i'm not sure where to ask.
With the Amex Platinum Charge card sign up bonus, has anyone tried, or does anyone know if it is possible to get the bonus points within 18 months of canceling the card?
Cheers!

 

[unfunkable]

Just another question, I've see conflicting posts of people not getting points on new programs ( like gateway) because they already held another amex card.
I have never had a ascent premium account or a charge card....I SHOULD be eligible for the sign on points right.

 

[Jaian]

Hi Unfunkable...what card did you/do you have with Amex?

 

[unfunkable]

We have the plat edge and the explorer
Have had the velocity plat in the past
cheers

 

[Jaian]

I think if you have the Platinum edge, you won't get the bonus points as it's still Ascent MR, you would just get your existing points moved into Ascent Premium by going on the Charge card. I could be wrong though, let's see what other board members think.

 

[andye]

I think if you have the Platinum edge, you won't get the bonus points as it's still Ascent MR, you would just get your existing points moved into Ascent Premium by going on the Charge card. I could be wrong though, let's see what other board members think.

Ascent Premium is different to Ascent.
If you haven't had a Charge product in last 18 months you should be eligible
If you are super-lucky they will credit them twice

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Maybe the flight is still the go and the change is coming soon.

To be honest i do not recall the date it changes.

Existing AMEX Reseve cardholders can still book the free flight unit March 29th, after that date the only option is the $400 credit.

Not sure if new cards are also able to do that or they only have the $400 travel credit option...

 

[andye]

It is same for new